Dressing,in particular for natural cavities of the human body



May 19, 1970 DESQY E ET AL 3,512,527

m PARTICULAR FOR NATURAL'CAVITIES OF' THE HUMAN BODY DRESSING,

Filed 001;. 9, 1967 Patented May 19, 1970 3,512.527 DRESSING, INPARTICULAR FOR NATURAL CAVITIES OF THE HUMAN BODY Marguerite Desoye, 107Avenue Marcel Cachin, Chatillon-sur-Bagneux, Hauts-de-Seme, Fjrance, andJohn Clemow, 8 Boulevard de lHopltal 13 eme, Paris, France Filed Oct. 9,1967, Ser. No. 673,807 Claims priority, applicatiozlkl rance, Oct. 17,1966,

Int. Cl. Aslm 35/00 US. Cl. 128261 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThe treatment of certain conditions such as haemorrhoids presents anumber of difliculties since, unless the patient is to be operated on,his immobilisatlon 1s 1mpossible.

The pharmaceutical dosage form most often employed is the suppositorybut this rapidly passes 1nto the rectum and does not stay in situ.Treatment with omtments 1s disagreeable and may necessitate the use ofan external dressing which may not stay in place.

Likewise, certain conditions of the cervlx are difficult to treat, theusual method being the use of ovules which again do not always stay inplace. The use of gels, ointments and powders has also been suggestedbut 1s not satisfactory owing to the impossibility of maintaining themedicament in place.

The present invention remedies the foregoing difiiculties, consisting ofa dressing whose me is adapted to the zone to be treated, which rests inplace, which can be 1mpregnated with an active product and which can beplaced into position very easily and without danger. In addition thedressing is valid for ambulant treatments.

One novelty of the invention resides in the fact that after insertion, aportion of the unit is retained by the elastic walls of the entrance tothe body cavity or of the organ, permitting the easy withdrawal of theprotective casing which leaves the dressing exposed and 1n the precisearea to be treated.

According to the invention, the dressing COHSlSlS of a rigid hollow capof appropriate form made of a material which progressively softens ordissolves, fixed to a tampon made of a supple sponge aerated substancewh ch again is capable of softening or dissolving in a progressivefashion.

A small tube, open at one extremity normally protects the tampon andserves as an instrument for the insertion of the dressing. 6

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cap is made ofgelatine of pharmaceutical quality and identical to the cap of atwo-piece gelatine capsule and the tampon is made from aerated gelatinein the form of a sponge.

The following description enumerates other characteristics of theinvention. One form of the object of the invention is represented, as anexample, in the attached drawing.

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of the dressing.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the dressing in situ.

In FIG. 1, the dressing is composed of a cap 1 of cylindrical formhaving a spheroidal end. To the interior of the cap is fixed acylindrical tampon 2 made of spongy material.

Generally the cap is made of pharmaceutical gelatine and the tampon ofgelatine sponge. These two elements dissolve or soften easily on contactwith aqueous liquids and in particular those secreted bymucousunembranes. In addition, tampon 2 is protected by a tube 3, openat its lower end 4. The upper extremity 5 of the tube 3 fits under thecap 1, increasing its rigidity at the moment of insertion. I

The external surface of the cap 1 may be covered with a coating of aproduct to facilitate its introduction, for example a composition ofwaxes and oils.

In the same way the tampon 2 may be impregnated with an active product.

Finally the protective tube carries two protruding collars 6 and 7 ofwhich collar 6 serves to indicate the limit of insertion of the tube,while collar 7 facilitates the withdrawal of the protective tube 3.

The tube 3 is then drawn out of the cavity and the dressing, beingretained by the edge of the cap, then occupies the position shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 where it is represented in the anus (FIG. 2) as atreatment, for example, of an infection of that organ and in the cervix(FIG. 3) in the treatment of that organ.

When the tampon is in contact with the skin or mucous membrane, owing tothe presence of natural body liquids, the active product diffuses fromthe impregnated dressing on to the mucous surface or, in the case of anon-impregnated tampon, the tampon provides the protective and isolatinglayer desirable in treatment or prevention.

According to the treatment, the cap and tampon may be of differentsizes.

The tampon may be impregnated with a range of substances, for example,vaso-constrictors antiseptics, surfactants, etc.

Various modifications to the form of the object are possible within theframe of the invention.

We claim:

1. A dressing particularly for the cavities of the human body,comprising an elongated tampon made of an aerated flexible substancecapable of softening or dissolving progressively and of sufficientlength so that a portion thereof is retained by the elastic walls of theentrance of the body cavity while another portion extends into the bodycavity, a hollow rigid cap made of a substance capable of dissolving orsoftening progressively fixed about one end of said tampon, and a smalltube open at least at one end and containing said tampon, said tubeserving to protect said tampon and to aid the insertion thereof into thebody cavity.

2. Dressing according to claim 1, in which the cap and the tampon arecomposed of gelatine of pharmaceutical quality.

3. Dressing according to claim 1, in which the tampon is impregnatedwith any suitable active product.

4. Dressing according to claim 1, in which the upper human body,comprising a tampon made of an aerated References Cited flexiblesubstance capable of softening or dissolving pro- UNITED STATES PATENTSgresslvely and capable of bemg retalned by the elastic walls of theentrance of the body cavity, a hollow rigid 2007626 7/1935 Warlng128-264 cap of a substance capable of dissolving or softening pro-2,616424 11/1952 Brown et 128 264 gressively and fixed to one end ofsaid tampon, and a 5 small tube open at least at one end serving toprotect the ADELE EAGER, Primary Examiner tampon and to aid theinsertion thereof into the body cavity, said tube fitting under the capbetween its inner U.S. C1. X.R.

surface and the flexible tampon. 10 128-270, 271

